diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/DownloadlistAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/DownloadlistAdapter.java
index b85d1d35d..b0ee87b7e 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/DownloadlistAdapter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/DownloadlistAdapter.java
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package de.danoeh.antennapod.adapter;
 
 import android.content.Context;
-import android.support.v4.content.ContextCompat;
 import android.view.LayoutInflater;
 import android.view.View;
 import android.view.ViewGroup;
@@ -15,20 +14,15 @@ import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.service.download.DownloadRequest;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.service.download.DownloadStatus;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.service.download.Downloader;
 import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.util.Converter;
-import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.util.ThemeUtils;
 
 public class DownloadlistAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
 
-    private static final int SELECTION_NONE = -1;
-
-    private int selectedItemIndex;
     private final ItemAccess itemAccess;
     private final Context context;
 
     public DownloadlistAdapter(Context context,
                                ItemAccess itemAccess) {
         super();
-        this.selectedItemIndex = SELECTION_NONE;
         this.context = context;
         this.itemAccess = itemAccess;
     }
@@ -74,13 +68,6 @@ public class DownloadlistAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
             holder = (Holder) convertView.getTag();
         }
 
-        if (position == selectedItemIndex) {
-            convertView.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(convertView.getContext(),
-                    ThemeUtils.getSelectionBackgroundColor()));
-        } else {
-            convertView.setBackgroundResource(0);
-        }
-
         holder.title.setText(request.getTitle());
 
         holder.progbar.setIndeterminate(request.getSoFar() <= 0);
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/FeedItemlistAdapter.java b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/FeedItemlistAdapter.java
index a365b1b2e..d090bc4b1 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/FeedItemlistAdapter.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/adapter/FeedItemlistAdapter.java
@@ -34,12 +34,8 @@ public class FeedItemlistAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
     private final ItemAccess itemAccess;
     private final Context context;
     private final boolean showFeedtitle;
-    private final int selectedItemIndex;
     /** true if played items should be made partially transparent */
     private final boolean makePlayedItemsTransparent;
-
-    private static final int SELECTION_NONE = -1;
-
     private final int playingBackGroundColor;
     private final int normalBackGroundColor;
 
@@ -51,7 +47,6 @@ public class FeedItemlistAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
         this.context = context;
         this.itemAccess = itemAccess;
         this.showFeedtitle = showFeedtitle;
-        this.selectedItemIndex = SELECTION_NONE;
         this.makePlayedItemsTransparent = makePlayedItemsTransparent;
 
         playingBackGroundColor = ThemeUtils.getColorFromAttr(context, R.attr.currently_playing_background);
@@ -112,12 +107,6 @@ public class FeedItemlistAdapter extends BaseAdapter {
 
         if (!(getItemViewType(position) == Adapter.IGNORE_ITEM_VIEW_TYPE)) {
             convertView.setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
-            if (position == selectedItemIndex) {
-                convertView.setBackgroundColor(ContextCompat.getColor(convertView.getContext(),
-                        ThemeUtils.getSelectionBackgroundColor()));
-            } else {
-                convertView.setBackgroundResource(0);
-            }
 
             StringBuilder buffer = new StringBuilder(item.getTitle());
             if (showFeedtitle) {
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/util/ThemeUtils.java b/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/util/ThemeUtils.java
index 14f091249..1da7a5c50 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/util/ThemeUtils.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/de/danoeh/antennapod/core/util/ThemeUtils.java
@@ -3,30 +3,11 @@ package de.danoeh.antennapod.core.util;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.support.annotation.AttrRes;
 import android.support.annotation.ColorInt;
-import android.util.Log;
 import android.util.TypedValue;
 
-import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.R;
-import de.danoeh.antennapod.core.preferences.UserPreferences;
-
 public class ThemeUtils {
-    private ThemeUtils(){}
+    private ThemeUtils() {
 
-    private static final String TAG = "ThemeUtils";
-
-    public static int getSelectionBackgroundColor() {
-        int theme = UserPreferences.getTheme();
-        if (theme == R.style.Theme_AntennaPod_Dark) {
-            return R.color.selection_background_color_dark;
-        } else if (theme == R.style.Theme_AntennaPod_TrueBlack){
-            return R.color.selection_background_color_trueblack;
-        } else if (theme == R.style.Theme_AntennaPod_Light) {
-            return R.color.selection_background_color_light;
-        } else {
-            Log.e(TAG,
-                    "getSelectionBackgroundColor could not match the current theme to any color!");
-            return R.color.selection_background_color_light;
-        }
     }
 
     public static @ColorInt int getColorFromAttr(Context context, @AttrRes int attr) {
diff --git a/core/src/main/res/values/colors.xml b/core/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
index 5d820f3cf..0e4533977 100644
--- a/core/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
+++ b/core/src/main/res/values/colors.xml
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@
     <color name="image_readability_tint">#80000000</color>
     <color name="feed_image_bg">#50000000</color>
 
-    <color name="selection_background_color_trueblack">#286E8A</color>
-    <color name="selection_background_color_dark">#286E8A</color>
-    <color name="selection_background_color_light">#81CFEA</color>
-
     <!-- Theme colors -->
     <color name="primary_light">#FFFFFF</color>
     <color name="primary_darktheme">#212121</color>